Author's Note:
Hey there! Thanks for clicking on my fanfiction, Sophia's Lost Days. This is an idea that I've had floating around in my head for some time- and since I've been rewatching the series, I figured it was time to give it a shot.
This was going to be around 13 chapters, each one titled after the respective Season 2 episodes so you had an idea of where the story is in the timeline. The chapters would link to the episode title in one way or another. However as I am diverting from canon content there might be more than 13 chapters now!
If this story does well, I will do a sequel following the events of the season 2 and the following seasons.
Please enjoy this ninth chapter of Sophia's Lost Days. I know it will show up as chapter 10, but chapter 8 was in two parts so...
As always, reviews are appreciated- feedback is essential. Helps me know what to change and/or improve upon.
If I haven't replied to your review, please let me know! I reply to every review I receive! I am very grateful for the support so far!
As always, let me know if you spot any spelling or grammatical errors.
Although I am using the TV versions of the characters, I will be drawing more on the comics for inspiration. As in, the Governor will be as brutal as he is in the comics, and Negan will swear like he does in the comics. Just a heads up.
Here is a trigger warning for mentions of sexual assault and other mature themes. There will be graphic descriptions of gore and violence as well.
From here on out, updates will probably be once a week, maybe twice if I'm feeling particularly inspired.
Here's a new feature...
Songs I listened to while writing this chapter (in case it helps anyone with inspiration):
This is Me (Movie Soundtrack) - Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
Dragon Age Inquisition (Game Soundtrack) - Trevor Morris.
Centuries - Fallout Boy.
Dragon Age Origins (Game Soundtrack) - Inon Zur.
The Witcher 3 (Game Soundtrack) - Various artists.
The Prince of Egypt (Movie Soundtrack) - Various artists.
Johnny Cash (Greatest Hits) - Johnny Cash.
Queen (Greatest Hits) - Queen.
I decided to divert from the canon storyline somewhat- to separate my story from the thousands of other fanfictions.
I am aware that Shane discovers Lori's pregnancy in episode 7 of season 2, but as I mentioned, I am going off canon events for now.
When I mentioned two people on fire coming out of the bar, I did intend for that to be Dave and Tony. But, since I didn't make it explicitly clear, and you all believe they are still alive- I am going to keep them as being alive. For now.
One last thing:
I do want to include romance eventually, but it will be a slow burn- I do not intend for that to be the main focus of the story, or for it to be rushed. It will be realistic. Your thoughts?
Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter out! I am working on my original novel which I want to publish someday, so that's where I've disappeared to! As an apology, this is an extra long chapter! I believe it is the longest chapter yet! I did research some medical stuff for this chapter, but found not much on how to drain infections without proper equipment, so I had to improvise a little.
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Word count: 9,586!
Chapter 9 -
Triggerfinger (Part 1) -
With Jasper…
She finally managed to tear herself away from Annie's body- leaning against the wall as blood seeps through her shirt. Listening as the world ended around her, she looked up the ceiling-body growing numb. A few moments pass by in eerie silence- before she tears her gaze away. Tears streaming down her face, Jasper stares at her daughter's body- and the gore spread across the floor. Mere hours ago, she'd been able to get Annie to laugh for the first time since the start of the outbreak. They'd had a few hours of blissful peaced. Jasper wished that it was all just a nightmare- that she'd wake up and everything would be alright...but no matter how many times she pinched herself...or blinked...nothing changed. Shaking all over, she forced herself to look down at the glass piercing her front. The jagged shard was coated with blood- a grisly wound.
Yet, somehow, she felt no pain. After all,what was that wound…
Compared to what Annie had felt?
Screaming Annie's name, Jasper bolted upright- sweat clinging to her body. As she looked around wildly- she blinked rapidly to clear her blurred vision. Slightly confused, she continued looking around- until a sharp burst of pain forced her to lie back down. Staring at the ceiling, she grimaced as the pain intensified, burning like a white hot fire in her veins. The pain was unlike anything she'd ever felt- and she wasn't sure how long she could take it. Every slight movement burned- and her sudden awakening hadn't helped. If anything, it had made the pain worse. Her body was beaten, bruised, and bloody. Yet, somehow, despite it all she was still alive. Her body hadn't given up yet. So engrossed was Jasper in her pain-induced haze...that she didn't even hear the footsteps sneaking up the stairs...or a door creaking open. She remained unaware of anyone's presence...until she saw the face of a familiar young man leaning over her.
As her vision cleared, Jasper felt her blood run cold. The young man was Randall- the one who had stood by and done nothing. The one who had given her a pseudo-guilty look before jumping in with the other men and leaving her defenceless on the highway. Remaining silent, she watched as the young man studied her- gathering any strength she could muster beyond her pain. She observed quietly as the young man disappeared from her line of sight- and listened intently. As he seemed to drag something around- and lean the heavy object against something, she felt a chill run down her spine. Something told her that the young man wasn't exactly pulling up a chair for a lighthearted chat. Looking around wildly, she spotted a glass next to her- on a worn bedside table. It was full of water, but that didn't matter. It was better than nothing.
Randall returned to lean over her, expression similar to the one she'd seen on him before- guilt.
"I'm sorry." the young man whispered. "But they said they'd let me go if I…"
As his voice tailed off, Randall withdrew a small blade from his sleeve- hidden and obscured by thick material. The young man leaned in close, until his blade was at her throat- and she could feel his breath on her skin. Letting him focus on her, Jasper pushed past her pain- covertly reaching for the glass. Every muscle in her body screamed as she stretched out her arm- but she forced herself to keep going.
"I'm sorry." Randall repeated.
"I'm not." Jasper seized the glass.
In one swift motion, she picked the crystalline glass up with her shaking hands- and smashed it into the side of the young man's head. Ignoring the shards digging into her hands, Jasper watched in morbid fascination as Randall cried out in shock. Screaming like an injured animal, he dropped the blade- stumbling backwards. As blood seeped down his face, his hands reached up to staunch the flow of red liquid, covering his eyes. Taking advantage of the young man's pain, Jasper pushed past her own agony- pulling on a building sense of adrenaline. Pulling herself upwards, she ignored the ache as stitches split- and shakily got to her feet. Before she could right herself, the young man was coming at her.
The two of them tumbled backwards onto the bed- fighting each other strongly. Or perhaps, scrapping- Randall looked equal parts guilty and terrified...and Jasper was slowly losing her grip on reality. With every punch they threw at each other, she could feel her knuckles splitting and stitches tearing- but she didn't let up. Even though her very nerves sung with pain. Instead, she reached for one last hit- striking Randall dead center just as the door burst open. As splinters flew everywhere, Randall backed away- only to be pulled back by Jasper. Using the young man, she pulled herself up- before putting an arm round his front...and picking up his knife to hold to his throat. Spitting out blood, she watched as figures she barely recognized burst into the room.
Eyes narrowing, she focused on the crossbow now aimed at her- aimed expertly by a man with short, tousled hair. Beside him stood another man- wielding a heavy handgun. Behind the two men was a cluster of people- ones she didn't recognize.
"You alright?" the archer spoke up first.
Jasper recognized him and the man with the gun- remembering that they had been the ones to find her. Before she could reply, Randall began writhing in her grip. Despite her exhaustion, Jasper maintained her hold on the younger man- her body trembling as she stood.
"Get her off me!" Randall protested.
"Shut up." Jasper gripped him tighter.
"Easy." the man with the gun spoke. "What happened?"
"Tried to kill me." Jasper answered simply.
"She's crazy!" Randall protested, coughing as blood leaked into his mouth.
Just as Jasper was drawing the knife back, ready to slit the young man's throat, someone pushed through the two men facing Jasper.
Sophia.
Catching sight of the young girl, Jasper relaxed instantly- but didn't let go of her hostage.
"Don't kill him." the man with the gun kept his weapon aimed at Randall.
"Do you have any idea-" Jasper started.
"Sophia told us everything." the man with the gun interrupted. "Some of this young man's friends….filled in the blanks."
Face flushing red, at the implication that all the people before her knew what she had suffered, Jasper grimaced. Every moment she stood was agony- and she could feel blood seeping through the torn stitches- but she didn't back down. She couldn't. Randall had been with the group that had hurt Sophia and assaulted Jasper herself.
"So you know why he deserves to die." Jasper spoke up- aware of the darkness creeping at the edges of her vision...and avoiding Sophia's gaze.
"We need him." the man with the gun explained.
Before she could speak up again, wondering why they'd need the young man- Jasper saw her vision blurring once more...and found herself swaying on her feet. As a growing feeling of nausea built in her stomach, Jasper stumbled- and let out a string of impressive curses. As the adrenaline finally ebbed away, the pain returned in full force- hitting her with a wave of agony.
Losing her grip on Randall and the knife, she watched as the young man ran away from her…
Before darkness clouded her vision once more…
And she crumpled to the ground…
Unconscious.
With Sophia…
As Jasper collapsed, Sophia rushed forward- ignoring her fear of Randall as she knelt at her friend's side. She'd been terrified when they brought him back- it had brought forth her terrifying memories that had almost broken her mere hours earlier. But she couldn't afford to dwell on that. Her friend needed her- though the older woman may not admit she needed assiy. Clearing her throat, Sophia fought back her nerves, and turned to face Rick and Daryl- who now held Randall firmly by the shoulders. As the young man avoided her gaze, Sophia spoke up- voice wavering slightly with worry and concern. She pushed all thoughts of her own terrors to the back of her mind. Jasper had been there for her. Now she had to be there for Jasper.
"We need to help her." Sophia spoke simply.
"Of course." Hershel stepped into view.
As Rick and Daryl led a bloody Randall away, Hershel approached Sophia- closely followed by Maggie, Patricia and Carol. The others filtered away- following after the former cop and resident hunter. Once the room was far less crowded than before, Hershel smiled warmly at Sophia.
"Let's get her back on the bed." his voice remained calm.
When Sophia's smile brightened, Carol felt her heart ease slightly. It had been heartbreaking to have Sophia crying her eyes out in her arms...but here...she saw those tears were nowhere to be seen.
They had been replaced by a strong concern for her friend.
Something that Carol had never quite seen before.
With Jasper…
She stumbled along the forest path- exhausted,beaten, and defeated. It had been a week or so since her last meal- and her body was starting to suffer. She was lethargic- aching all over...and it was getting harder to stay awake and fight the urge to collapse. Jasper forced herself to keep moving- until a thought entered her head. Why was she fighting so hard to stay alive? Everyone she had ever loved was dead- and every group she came across seemed to unravel. There was barely enough time for a moment's rest in this harsh new world- and it seemed strange to Jasper that she still fought so strongly. Tears began to drip down her face as her mind wandered- ghosting over the memories of what she had seen.
Just as Jasper's mind began to ponder on dangerous thoughts, she heard a loud scream from nearby. A high pitched scream that could only belong to a child.
Cursing, Jasper took out her hunting knife- pushing back all her negative thoughts…
As she mustered all her remaining energy…
And ran for the source of the bone chilling sound.
As she slowly came to, Jasper groaned as the room swirled and tilted around her. Whilst she blinked rapidly to clear her vision, she fought back against a growing sense of nausea. Once the world stabilized, the numbness of deep sleep faded- and she choked back a gasp as the pain returned. It was an intense agony, worse than before- and in her haze of hurt, she could feel fever burning in her body. Weakly turning around, Jasper's heart skipped a beat, when she caught sight of a kindly old man leaning over her.
"You're awake." the man sounded relieved.
Frowning, Jasper tried backing up against the bed's headboard- only to release a string of curses as the movement tore at her wounds. The pain brought dark spots into her vision- and had clearly stunned her...for the man was soon cupping her face with both hands. Jasper didn't know who the man was- she was sure he was with Sophia- but given her encounter with Randall, her every instinct was to fight him. Yet she didn't have the strength to argue. Resigning herself to the fact that she couldn't move, Jasper allowed the man to inspect her face- becoming more aware of the pain with every second that passed.
"I know you're probably feeling more than a little wary." the man spoke kindly, taking his hands away from her face. "But I can assure you...you're safe here."
"How-" Jasper swallowed, grimacing as the word grated on her dry throat.
"I know you've got a lot of questions." the man tactfully interrupted. "And I'm happy to answer them. But we need to get a look at you first. Will you let us do that?"
Jasper watched as two more faces appeared above her- a young woman...and a more mature lady. Both of them seemed increasingly concerned- but their warm smiles were undoubtedly genuine. There was no malice hidden behind the smiles- but that did little to ease Jasper's nerves. After all, the last time she woke up, she'd had to fight for her life. Something she was sure she'd never get used to. Nodding slightly, Jasper allowed the two women to gently pull her upwards. Even though their touch was careful, the movement still brought with it fresh waves of pain- enough to entice tears to flow silently down her face. Once the old man had arranged the pillows behind her, the two women leant her back- moving her into a sitting position against the carefully placed pillows. Satisfied, they stepped back- waiting at the foot of the bed. Clearing her throat, Jasper turned to face the old man again.
"I'm Hershel Greene." the old man smiled. "This is my daughter Maggie, and our friend Patricia."
Unable to find the energy to reply, Jasper merely smiled in response. The women's expressions seemed to brighten at her response.
"We're with the little girl, Sophia." Hershel continued. "You have nothing to worry about. That young man has been dealt with."
"You…" Jasper grimaced, sweat beading all over her skin.
"He's not dead. Though you did a pretty good job of bringing him close to that." Hershel shook his head. "We'll come to that later. For now, I'd like to take a look at your wounds- if you'll let me."
After a moment, Jasper studied Hershel- and found her nerves somewhat eased. She was a pretty good judge of character- her encounter with the men on the motorcycles had proved that- and so she could discern that he had no bad intentions. Confident in her judgement, Jasper nodded her approval.
Satisfied, Hershel gently pulled back the duvet that had been covering her from the waist down. As he did so, Jasper took a moment to study herself- and became acutely aware that she had been dressed. In her paranoia earlier, she'd not noticed- but someone had taken great care in dressing her. She wore a grey set of cotton pyjamas- noticeably washed. Jasper had almost begun to wave the prospect of clean clothes goodbye. After a moment passed, it also dawned on her that she'd clearly not dressed herself. She'd certainly not been in any state to even attempt it.
"Maggie and Patricia cleaned you up." Hershel noticed the red flush on Jasper's face. "I thought it best that they took care of that."
When Jasper didn't reply, Hershel cautiously began pulling up the legs of her pyjamas- stopping just above her knees. She detested being undressed even in the slightest, after that had been done to her- but she could see that it was necessary for the older man to be able to tend to her wounds. Grimacing, Jasper could see that the stitches had been torn- and the edges of the wounds were an angry red, leaking a murky yellow liquid. Beyond that, her legs were covered in a myriad of bruises. Some were yellow and pale- new and just beginning to bruise. Others were a dark, angry purple- almost black in the centre- and judging by the aches...seemed to stretch all the way up her legs. Swallowing as she took in the extent of the bruising, Jasper watched as Hershel then reached for the bottom of her shirt. The older man hesitated, waiting for her to protest. When she didn't say a word, merely flushing in response, he continued- stopping just below her ribs. The gunshot wound had also been torn open- sluggishly bleeding blood and yellow pus.
"It's worse than I thought." Hershel shook his head. "I was hoping you'd be out of it longer. We were just about to start tending to you'."
Taking a deep breath, Hershel secured the rolled up shirt with a pin- pulling the silver object out of a pocket in his creased shirt. Once the shirt was clear of the wound, he moved to the gunshot wound in the right side of her collarbone. Hershel had to peel the shirt away from the wound- the cloth moving like sandpaper against the torn stitches. Tears pooling in her eyes, Jasper clenched her hands into fists- willing herself not to make a sound to indicate her suffering. Moving the material out of the way, Hershel's expression darkened- as he took in the state of the wound. Shaking his head again, he gently cupped Jasper's face in his hands- carefully tilting her head towards him to get a better look at the jagged wound. The mark from the glass shards was an even angrier red than the other injuries- Jasper could tell by the pulsating ache in her face.
"Sophia tells us you're a surgeon." Hershel let go of her face, leaning back in the armchair he'd pulled up against the bed. "So you know what I have to do. We did stitch you up to stop the bleeding...but I'm afraid we may have made things worse for you."
Heart sinking, Jasper nodded. Hershel would have to drain the infection- like she'd done only days before on Sophia's leg. It was an extremely unpleasant process- both for the injured party, and the one performing the procedure.
"Shouldn't we get her a glass of water first?" the younger of the two women, who Jasper deduced was Maggie, spoke up.
"Good idea. Maggie, if you'll fetch the water." Hershel agreed. "Patricia, we're going to need some towels, my first aid kit, and something for her to bite down on."
Both women quickly exited the room- moving quickly away. They'd clearly done this before.
"You've dealt with this before. Sophia said you were the one who saved her leg." Hershel spoke up again. "So you know it's going to hurt quite a bit."
"I know." Jasper swallowed.
"Normally we'd do it the easy way-" Hershel started.
"Soaking the wound…" Jasper cleared her throat.
"We both know you can't wait for us to do it the easy way." Hershel smiled sympathetically.
Sighing heavily, Jasper fought the dread building within her- and watched as Hershel turned to look out the door.
"Daryl! I could use your help!" Hershel called out.
After a series of footsteps sounded up the stairs, a familiar figure appeared in the doorway- the archer. Glancing from Jasper to Hershel, he cleared his throat.
"You need me for something?" Daryl leaned against the doorframe.
"Might need you to hold her down." Hershel glanced back at Jasper. "We've exhausted our small supply of painkillers, so I'm afraid this won't be very pleasant."
"Why me?" Daryl seemed confused.
"Rick's arm isn't going to be up to it. Nor is TDogs- and Glenn is helping my Maggie with Beth." Hershel smiled slightly.
Seeing the reasoning in the older man's logic, Daryl nodded, and stepped inside the room. Remaining silent, he quietly stood opposite Hershel- at Jasper's right side. A few moments passed in awkward silence, no one sure of what to say- before Maggie and Patricia appeared again, the latter carrying an armful of supplies. The younger woman produced a plastic cup of water- and held it out. Smiling gratefully, Hershel took the cup- and passed it to Jasper. Taking it into her sweating, trembling hands, Jasper sipped the cool water gratefully- ignoring the pain as the liquid soothed her sore throat. Once she'd downed the whole cup, she passed it back to Hershel.
As the cup was gently laid on the bedside table, Patricia stepped forward, handing out an armful of supplies to Hershel. Studying the supplies, as Hershel organized them, Jasper was surprised at the quality of the first aid kit. They were well stocked. That didn't make her heart beat any slower. Placing a pile of towels on the bed at Jasper's feet, the older man set the large bowl next to the empty cup. Once satisfied that everything was within arm's reach, Hershel took a deep breath- and handed a sturdy wooden spoon to Jasper. Confused, Jasper looked up at Hershel- black spots dancing in her vision once more.
"We don't want you biting your tongue. I'm sure you know that." Hershel explained.
Nodding, Jasper placed the handle of the spoon between her teeth. Bracing herself, she turned to face the older man. This procedure was dire enough with a strong anaesthetic...but without it...Jasper knew she wouldn't be able to stop herself from making a sound.
"Now, I'm going to need the three of you to hold her down." Hershel spoke calmly. "Patricia, Maggie, if you hold her legs."
Heart pounding ever faster, Jasper watched as the two women took hold of each of her legs- cautiously avoiding the wounds in her knees.
"Daryl, if you take hold of her shoulders." Hershel continued. "Careful now."
Once everyone was in place, Hershel excused himself for a moment- the sound of water running piercing the empty silence. Mere seconds ticked by before he returned- sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Taking a seat at Jasper's side again, the older man produced a thin, shining scalpel from the first aid kit.
"I'm not a surgeon, but I'll do my best." Hershel tried to alleviate the tension. "I'm going to remove the stitches first. Then we'll see about draining the infection."
Flexing his fingers, Hershel moved the scalpel to Jasper's knees- almost expertly severing the remaining stitches in each wound. Grimacing, Jasper watched as he laid the scalpel down, and replaced it with a pair of tweezers. Glancing back up at her for a moment, Hershel quickly returned his gaze to the wounds. As he grasped the end of the suturing thread in Jasper's left knee, hands unshaking, Hershel gave her an apologetic look- before pulling on the thread.
As the thread moved like rough sandpaper against the deep grooves in her skin, Jasper fought back tears. Each new tug of the thread brought forth more dark blood...and more dirty yellow liquid. Trembling all over, Jasper clamped down on the wooden handle in her mouth.
Moving quickly, Hershel soon had the threads removed from her knees- turning himself towards the gunshot wound in Jasper's torso next. Studying the wound, Jasper realized the torn stitches had become stuck to her skin with the sticky pus from the infection- meaning that Hershel would have to dig the scalpel in to get the sutures out. She heard the older man curse- likely having come to the same conclusion. Feeling the colour drain from her face, Jasper was unable to stop her body jerking as the scalpel dug sharply into her skin. As it grinded against the hardened sutures, slicing through congealed blood and torn skin, she willed herself not to move. Even as Hershel pulled the stitches from the injury, she forced herself to remain still. Jasper knew that moving would only serve to make her wounds worse- and make it harder for Hershel to treat her. Which would only prolong the agonizing treatment.
With black tendrils creeping in at the edges of her blurred vision, Jasper found herself shaking harder- unable to do anything other than watch, as Hershel cautiously avoided Daryl's arms to pull the stitches from the gunshot wound in the right side of her collarbone. The wound was through and through- meaning that the stitches had gone deep. Hershel had to dig in deep through several layers of skin, so every new stitch removed was pure agony- but Jasper still fought against the burning pain.
Hershel stopping for a moment didn't even bring much in the way of relief. It barely even brought a moment's respite..
"I know this isn't pleasant, but we need to lean you forward so I can get to the exit wounds." Hershel smiled tiredly.
Nodding, Jasper allowed herself to be leaned forward- Daryl awkwardly taking hold of her in a mock embrace so Hershel could get to the jarring exit wounds. Face flushing, Jasper closed her eyes- feeling as if the skin was being torn from her with every piece of suturing thread removed. It was like her very nerves had been set alight- and she wasn't sure how much more pain she could take.
Thankfully, she was soon being leant back again- everyone moving into their previous positions with ease.
"This is the hard part." Hershel cleaned the scalpel with the smallest towel. "Getting rid of the infection."
Swallowing in an effort to calm her raging nerves, Jasper nodded her approval. She watched in morbid fascination as Hershel produced a lighter from the set of supplies- using it to hold under the scalpel. As the blade shifted from grey to a white-hot shade of burning orange, Hershel finally closed the lighter- carefully placing it on the bedside table. Not wasting any time, he swiftly dug into the gash on Jasper's left knee.
The smell of burning flesh hit Jasper's nostrils before the pain hit- an agony so intense that she felt her back arching in response. Eyes wide, Jasper watched as pus began flowing rapidly from the wound- drenching the towel that Hershel quickly placed under her legs. Gasping for breath, she bit down on the spoon handle harder- as Hershel moved on to the deep cut in her right knee. The pain was growing worse with every passing moment- causing sweat to drip down Jasper's forehead. Watching, she saw him withdraw the scalpel- and together they watched as spots of red began appearing in the pus. After a minute or two passed, the liquid became fully red- bright and uninfected.
Heaving a sigh of relief, Hershel discarded the stained towel onto the floor- cautiously wrapping a new one around the fresh wounds. Sweat beading on his own forehead, he placed the scalpel down- before reaching for another blade. It was longer- but no less sharp. Picking up the lighter again, Hershel heated the blade- waiting until it turned a familiar burned orange before placing the lighter down again.
Tears streaming down her face, Jasper watched as he placed the blade at the opening of the gunshot hole in her torso.
As he pushed the blade in, Jasper felt the spoon handle drop from her mouth- as she let out a cry of agony. Struggling, feeling the blade deep within the wound, she began shaking intensely- the black tendrils in her vision replaced by shining stars.
When her sight began wavering, Jasper felt Hershel remove the blade…
And found her body trembling anew.
With the world fading around her, Jasper heard a flurry of movement.
"She's going into shock!" Hershel stood up.
"Can't we stop?" Jasper heard Maggie through the pain induced haze. "She's in pain!"
"If I don't do this then she won't make it through the night!" Hershel protested.
The older man began arguing with Maggie, the latter unable to watch their guest in such pain.
Feeling her body begin to grow numb, Jasper finally gave into the pain…
And passed out.
Jasper ran rapidly through the woods, drawing on a renewed energy as the sound of walkers groaning mingled with the tragic noise of a child crying. Stumbling over fallen trees and branches, she forced her way forward- gripping her hunting knife tighter with each new step. Ignoring a growing sense of dread, she found herself at the edge of a clearing- overlooking a flowing creek. Wildly looking around, Jasper saw movement to her right- and ran forward.
As the water around her began turning red, she looked down…
And saw a young girl lying at her feet.
This time, as she came to, Jasper found that her body was no longer burning with intense agony- and had instead become immersed in a dull ache. Beyond the aches and lingering pains, she felt no heat, no fever- only a numb feeling that seemed to be setting in. Throat cracked and dry, she tried to open her eyes- but found that she didn't even have the strength to do that. Infuriated by how weak she felt, Jasper resigned herself to listening in to what was going on around her.
"Any change?" an unfamiliar, yet unmistakably female voice spoke up.
"None yet." Jasper soon recognized Hershel's kind voice.
"When will she wake up?" a voice Jasper realized was Sophia's piped up.
"I'm not sure." Hershel admitted. "It's only been a few hours. She did go into shock."
"But she will wake up?" Sophia spoke again.
Smiling slightly at her young companions concern, Jasper gathered all the energy she could- drawing on her inner strength in order to open her eyes. It was hard- she was exhausted, and her eyelids were heavy from the tiredness...but she still forced them open. Once again greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling in a hazy, swirling world, Jasper fought back the intense nausea- and cleared her throat.
Almost instantly, Hershel was in her line of vision- face wearing a surprised and altogether shocked expression. Despite the tiredness reflected in his eyes, he soon began smiling warmly.
"You're awake." Hershel spoke. "You had me worried back there."
"Thank you." Jasper managed, though it grated on her sore throat.
"You're very welcome. I doubt it's much compared to your work…" Hershel's voice tailed off.
"I'm still...alive...aren't I?" Jasper smiled tiredly.
"True enough." Hershel seemed relieved.
The stairs creaked- and footsteps soon sounded down the hall. Within a few moments, a familiar face was at the door- Sophia. Once the two of them locked eyes, the young girl smiled- beaming almost from ear to ear. Quickly crossing the room, she came to stand opposite Hershel at Jasper's side. Hesitantly, the young girl reached out her arms. Smiling fondly, Jasper went to reach out her own arms- only to stare at them. The room fell into silence. Arms trembling, she found tears stinging in her eyes. It wasn't the shakes that disturbed her, nor was it the numerous scratches. It was the distinctly hand shaped bruises on her wrists. As she took in the angry markings, Jasper felt the shakes spread to the rest of her body.
Tactfully, Hershel shepherded Sophia out of the room- insisting even as the young girl protested. Pausing for a moment in the doorway, he waited until Jasper looked up at him- before he exited the room...closing the splintered door behind him.
Allowing the tears to flow freely down her face, Jasper found all the memories of her assault flowing back to her.
Eyes wide with rage, he crawls into the car again, climbing on top of her. As he leans down, close enough that she can feel his breath on her skin, Jasper spits- the spittle hitting the man in between his eyes. Cursing, the tall man moves backwards- before reaching out a hand to slap her hard across the face.
Eyes wide, Jasper found it harder and harder to contain her emotions. It was taking everything she had not to break.
Spitting out blood, she reacts quickly again- using her last burst of energy to headbutt him. Reeling, the man screams with fury- clenching his hands into fists.
Shaking harder, she struggled to take deep, gasping breaths- as she felt her breathing become more erratic.
The last thing Jasper sees before everything goes black…
Jasper swallowed in an attempt to reign in her emotions.
Is the tall man tearing her shirt open.
Shoulders heaving, Jasper struggled to draw in a breath. She never liked showing her emotions much- much less in the presence of strangers.
But...try as she might…
She was cracking.
With Shane…
Pushing through the crowds of people, Shane fought back the feeling of guilt gnawing at his heart. It had taken every fiber of his being to tear himself away from Rick's lifeless body- but he pushed forward. He couldn't give up. Looking around wildly as the hospital descended into panic- the sound of rapid gunshots echoing in the ruined halls, Shane ran. Willed himself to keep moving. He couldn't think about Rick's body lying there- he had to think about who was left. He had to think about Lori and Carl- he had to take care of them. He knew it was what Rick would want- but that didn't make it any easier. He'd known Rick for as long as he could remember- they were as close as brothers. It was agony to leave his body behind, but Shane still kept going- until he finally got out of the hospital..
And froze where he stood.
All around him, people were dropping like flies- downed by the heavy gunfire. Coupled with piercing screams, the noise was almost deafening. Drawn by the carnage, fhe terrifying 'walkers' that Shane had seen on the news began descending upon the chaos in force- swarming soldiers and innocents alike. Absolutely terrified, Shane fought against his own fear.
Taking out his gun, he gritted his teeth.
He was going to get to Lori and Carl.
And nothing was going to stop him.
When he finally started coming around, Shane instantly became aware of the agonizing ache in his head. It was incomparable to anything he'd ever felt- a new pain. The back of his skull was throbbing painfully- and he was sure that, if his eyes were open, he'd definitely be seeing stars. Grimacing, Shane did his best to focus- pushing through the pain. His brain almost in a fog, he struggled- until he could finally find the strength to open his eyes. The world around him was blurred beyond recognition- enough to bring a building sense of nausea. Swallowing, both to steady his nerves and his stomach, Shane blinked rapidly. Slowly, the blur began to fade away- and he could start to make out more defined shapes. Once his vision cleared completely, the former cop began studying his surroundings.
He was in an unfamiliar, dusty basement.
And opposite him...
"LORI!" Shane called out as he realized who the unconscious figure opposite him was.
Struggling, Shane tried to move- only to find his hands tied behind him. Cursing, he looked upwards- and saw a concrete pillar. Jerking around, he tried to break free...but soon found that was impossible. Looking back up, he found Lori in the exact same position in front of him. Several feet away- close, but at the same time...so very far. Studying the unconscious woman, Shane felt his heart almost stop when he saw a patch of blood on the right side of her pale face. Racking his brain, he tried to remember just how they'd gotten into such a shitty situation.
The engine stalls, and he curses- swearing up a storm as the car grinds to a halt. The engine couldn't have broken down at a worse time. He and Lori were alone- and if Sophia's story had been anything to go by- they probably wouldn't be alone for long. With a million thoughts running through his mind, he turns to face Lori- who was staring at the dark road before them...likely with the same thoughts in her head. Cautiously looking all around, he takes a deep breath- before reaching for his gun.
"Where are you going?" Lori speaks up.
"Have to get this thing started." he opens the car door on his side.
"It's not safe-" Lori starts.
"It's more dangerous to stay here." he interrupts, stepping out the car.
Just as he is reaching to shut the door, he hears footsteps behind him. Reacting quickly, he turns around…
Only to have something heavy hit him round the side of the head…
Which knocks him out cold.
The memory brings with it a realization- the two of them had been taken. Likely by the same men that had attacked Sophia and her new friend. Of course, he had no way of knowing that for sure- but he also knew that there weren't many groups still surviving...much less the large group that Sophia had described. After all, there was safety in numbers- to a point. If you had too many people in your group then you became a walking, all-you-can-eat buffet.
"Shane?" Lori's voice breaks Shane out of his thoughts.
Heart skipping a beat, Shane re-focused on Lori's face- instantly relieved when he saw no misty daze reflected in her eyes. It meant that she didn't have a concussion- which would greatly improve their chances of getting through whatever kind of shitty situation they were currently stuck in.
"You alright?" Shane pursued.
"I think so…" Lori's eyes widened.
"You hurt?"
"No, I...I just…"
As Lori avoided his gaze, Shane frowned. Before he could speak, however, he caught Lori's eyes drifting down to her stomach. Even with the concern and tears in her eyes, it still took a few moments before the realization hit Shane like a sledgehammer.
"Lori…" Shane swallowed. "Are you…"
When Lori merely nodded in response, the former cop felt a myriad of emotions. On one hand, he was overjoyed- because there was the very real possibility that the child was his. On the other hand, he was also concerned- how was the group supposed to raise a baby in a world like this?
"Is it mine?" Shane spoke up hesitantly. "Lori, is it-"
"It's Rick's." Lori interrupted.
"But-"
"No matter what's happened, it's Rick's."
Before he could even formulate an answer, the two of them were snapped back into reality by the sound of footsteps upstairs. The moments distraction was soon replaced by a growing panic- and the noise of arguments above them. There was a great many voices- but they forced themselves to focus...until they could just make out a few yelled sentenced.
"I want her!" one voice complained.
"You can't have her yet." another spoke calmly.
"But the redhead was out cold- this one's awake!"
Shane and Lori's eyes widened- as Shane's suspicions were confirmed. They were dealing with the same group of degenerate men that had assaulted Jasper and attacked young Sophia. They'd heard what the group had done to the two of them. They'd heard all of it. So they both knew there wasn't going to be any reasoning with these men. It also meant that, judging by their words, a majority of them wanted to do to Lori what they'd done to Jasper. Something that Shane definitely wasn't going to let happen.
"Are...they…" Lori looked pale.
"The same men that attacked Sophia?" Shane finished her sentence. "I think so."
"Oh god…" Lori leant her head back.
"Hey, Lori. Look at me." Shane spoke reassuringly.
When Lori finally made eye contact again, Shane offered a small smile.
"I'm not going to let them hurt you." Shane spoke firmly. "You hear me?"
Just as Lori was opening her mouth to thank Shane, they were shocked into silence by the sound of a door creaking open…
And footsteps coming down a set of stairs.
With Jasper…
Sucking in deep, heaving breaths, Jasper struggled to regain control of her breathing- tears streaming down her face. She'd not cried much since Annie died- Jasper had believed that she'd cried enough after that to last several lifetimes. Yet here she was, breaking down again. Jasper wondered just how much more she could take- how much more she could lose. Every day seemed to be getting harder. She'd wondered many times over the past few days what she would have done if she hadn't found Sophia. Would she still be alive? Would she have wanted to stay alive?
Deep in her thoughts, Jasper was startled by a knock on the door. Looking up blearily through her tears, she gathered all her remaining strength- before clearing her throat.
"Who is it?" Jasper spoke quietly, throat sore.
"I'm Sophia's mom. Hershel said to leave you be, but I couldn't…" the woman took a deep breath. "I thought you could use...someone. Maybe a friend?"
Surprised, Jasper found herself smiling- despite the tears.
"Come in." she finally spoke.
As the door creaked open, Jasper hastily wiped her tears away- pulling her sleeves down to cover the handmarks, just as Carol was poking her head round the door. The older woman hesitated in the doorway- waiting until Jasper smiled before she approached. As Carol walked over, Jasper slowly pulled herself into a proper sitting position. Awkwardly, Carol sat on the edge of the bed, before clearing her throat.
"I wanted to say thank you." Carol spoke up.
"Thank you?" Jasper seemed surprised.
"You brought my little girl back to me." Carol took Jasper's hands in hers. "Thank you."
"It was the right thing to do." Jasper answered simply.
Shaking her head, Carol let go of Jasper's hands, and hesitated again for a moment- before embracing Jasper. Surprised, Jasper simply sat there in shock- before returning the embrace.
"Really…" Carol spoke up. "I can't thank you enough."
After a few moments in peaceful quiet, the two of them broke apart- both sitting in companionable silence before the peace was shattered by the sound of shouting downstairs. Confused, Jasper and Carol glanced at each other- listening as the yelling escalated, permeated by the sound of furniture being smashed across the floor. A few moments passed in tense silence before Hershel appeared in the doorway- face pale and withdrawn.
"Is everything alright?" Carol rose to her feet.
"The young man…he had this…" Hershel produced a small, black, handheld radio. "Long range."
"Why would he-" Carol started.
"His friends have Shane and Lori." Rick appeared, dark circles under his eyes.
"Your friends?" Jasper turned to face him.
"My friend…and my wife." Rick sounded exhausted. "She's…"
"Is she hurt?" Jasper enquired.
"No. I don't think they've touched her yet. But she's….Lori's pregnant."
Rick's words caused the group to fall into a shocked silence- no one quite able to believe what they'd heard.
"What do they want?" Carol pierced the silence. "The boy?"
"They don't care about him. They used him." Hershel pointed out.
"Why-" Carol started.
"Me." Jasper realised, turning to face Carol with a grim expression. "They used him….to get to me."
A moment passed in awkward silence, before Jasper spoke again- locking eyes with Rick.
"They want me, don't they?" she crossed her arms, though they trembled from pain and exhaustion.
When no one met her gaze, Jasper took as deep a breath as she could- before uncrossing her arms to brace herself. Body shaking, she slowly pushed herself upwards- until she shakily stood on her own two feet. Gradually moving her back until she was fully upright, Jasper straightened up.
"Where are they?" she spoke firmly.
"They said they had them in a small town…not far from here." Hershel took a step forward. "I don't think it's wise for you to be out of bed."
"They want me." Jasper took another deep breath, ignoring Hershel's concern. "So take me."
"We can't just hand you over to them." Rick interjected. "Not after what they did."
"You have to. You said your wife is pregnant. They...they won't treat her any differently than they treated me." Jasper shuddered. "She'd lose the baby. I can't let that happen."
Expression grave, Rick found no words to form a reply- leaving Carol to speak up again.
"Still, we can't just…hand you over." Carol sounded frustrated.
"You can." Jasper repeated. "And you will."
"No." Rick spoke firmly. "We won't."
"They'll kill your friend. And your wife." Jasper seemed surprised.
"We just need to come up with a plan." Rick crossed his arms.
"Hand me over then." Jasper echoed her earlier words. "Use me as a distraction."
"Distraction?" Rick frowned.
"If they're holed up in town, it'll be in one of the bigger houses." Jasper continued. "Houses that size likely have a basement. I'm willing to bet that's where your people will be."
"That makes some sense." Hershel agreed.
"Exactly. So I go in, draw some of them out- and get their attention." Jasper explained. "Then you get inside and get your people out."
"It could work." Hershel turned to face Rick.
"Maybe we could-" Rick seemed uncomfortable with the idea of handing Jasper over.
"There's no better option. These men are…ruthless. You won't be able to reason with them." Jasper tried convincing Rick.
"We're running out of time." Hershel spoke up.
After a moment of consideration, Rick sighed heavily- before holding up the handheld radio. Looking down at the bulky object, he pressed a small red button- gesturing for the others to remain silent.
"This is Rick." he spoke into the radio.
"Rick." a voice cut through the resulting static. "You got an answer for me?"
"I do." Rick remained calm.
"You'll bring her?"
"I will."
"Good. We'll meet you at the sign on the edge of town."
Once the radio cut off again, Rick tucked the radio into his belt- before exhaling slowly.
"Edge of town." Rick shook his head.
"We can still get to your wife and friend." Jasper grimaced as a sharp pain struck her. "I'll drive in with you to the sign."
"What about-" Rick started.
"Has to be you handing me over." Jasper interrupted. "Since you've been the one communicating with them."
"I know another way into town." Hershel added. "I'll take Glenn and Daryl. TDog can't fight with that arm of his, so he can get us in and out."
"How do we know if you have them?" Rick asked.
"I think I have an old flare somewhere." Hershel answered. "We could use that as our signal."
"We're going to have to kill them to get your people back." Jasper pointed out.
"I'm not normally prone to violence. I am a man of God. " Hershel agreed. "But for these men, I believe the Lord will make an exception."
"We're really doing this?" Carol spoke nervously.
"We are." Rick confirmed, before turning to face Jasper. "You up for this?"
"Always." Jasper nodded.
"Alright, then. Let's get ready. This won't be easy." Rick sighed.
As everyone began filtering out of the room, Jasper turned to look at Carol. Tense silence remained all that was exchanged between them, for a few moments. Before Jasper could speak, the other woman abruptly left the room- leaving Jasper confused. A few moments ticked by before Carol reappeared, holding a familiar white coat.
"I cleaned it." Carol offered up the coat. "I thought you might want it back. Daryl found it...when he was looking for Sophia."
"You cleaned it?" Jasper was surprised. "But back then…you had no way of knowing who it belonged to."
"I know. It just seemed like…the right thing to do." Carol smiled warmly.
"Thank you, Carol." Jasper smiled back.
After some tense preparation, Rick, Jasper, and the others gathered on the front porch. All of them were as armed as they could be, each of them wearing an equally grim expression- for they knew that the approaching fight would not be easy. They also knew it was highly likely that some of them may not survive the encounter with the violent men- yet they all remained unwavering in their resolve. They would not leave Shane and Lori at the mercy of the gang. Leaving them behind would mean losing what they had left of their humanity- something all of them were still desperately clinging to. In the midst of the silence, Sophia approached Jasper- who was staring at a silvery object in her hand. Once she stood at Jasper's side, she could see the object was a medium sized locket on a silver chain- a photo and ribbon tied lock of hair within.
"Is that her?" Sophia broke the silence. "Your daughter?"
Startled, Jasper looked down at her young charge- before her expression softened.
"Yeah, that's her." Jasper angled the locket so Sophia could see clearly.
"She's pretty." Sophia smiled.
"She was, wasn't she?" Jasper swallowed, tears glistening in her eyes.
Sighing, the older woman closed the locket, before fixing the clasp round her neck- allowing the silver pendant to rest against her chest. Clicking her knuckles, she checked her hunting knife- safely tucked into her belt. Glancing back at Sophia, she examined the hand gun in her right hand. It wasn't unlike the ones she had taken from the men on the road. Gladdened by its familiarity, she fought the feeling of dread growing in her stomach.
"Why can't I come with you?" Sophia's voice snapped Jasper out of her thoughts.
"It's too dangerous." Jasper spoke simply.
"I can fight!" Sophia protested.
"I know you can." Jasper grimaced slightly as she spoke- kneeling so she was face to face with Sophia. "But your Mom needs you."
When Sophia merely pouted and looked away, Jasper chuckled fondly.
"She needs you." Jasper repeated. "Imagine how worried she's been."
Sophia avoided looking Jasper in the eyes.
"Besides, someone's got to hold down the Fort while we're gone." Jasper rummaged in a pocket in her newly cleaned white coat, before producing a familiar pocket knife. "Can you take care of everyone until we get back?"
"You are coming back, right?" Sophia bit her lip nervously.
Jasper knew that there was a very real possibility that they were going to lose someone- and that someone would more than likely be her- due to the men she'd killed, and the fact that she wasn't exactly in fighting shape. But...she kept that to herself. Fixing a confident smile on her face, she tucked her gun into one of her jacket pockets- before placing her hands on Sophia's shoulders.
"I'm coming back." Jasper lied smoothly, handing the pocketknife to Sophia.
"Promise?" Sophia pursued.
Jasper smiled again, this time with a tinge of sadness in her heart.
"I promise."
Satisfied, Sophia embraced Jasper- causing tears to prickle in the older woman's eyes. Staying there for a moment, Jasper waited a while before backing away. Once she was stood up straight, she cleared her throat- and turned to face the others. Taking a deep breath, she allowed her expression to slip into a calm, collected appearance.
"Let's go."
As the car quietly glided along the road, engine rumbling, Rick and Jasper sat in silence. Neither of them were sure what to say. After all, they were practically strangers- and were about to face unimaginable odds. Taking advantage of the quiet, Jasper glanced at Rick. Even in the dim light of the car, she could see the frown on his face- the wrinkled lines of worry. Adding to it the fact that his whole body was coiled tight with tension…and she could tell that he was hurting. It was understandable. Rick's best friend and Rick's pregnant wife were seriously at risk. It wasn't an ideal situation in any sense.
"Anything I need to know before we head in?" Jasper broke the silence.
"Like what?" Rick sighed heavily.
"You met some of them." Jasper clutched her injured side in an effort to relieve the pain. "You kill any of them?"
"I did." Rick shook his head.
"Then they'll want you too."
"I know."
As they drove up to the town's sign, Rick and Jasper watched as the others sped by- all of them giving each other a solemn nod as their paths crossed. Keeping watch until the others were out of sight, Rick reached down for the radio. Whilst the former cop took a deep breath to steady his nerves, Jasper kept her guard up- glancing every which way to ensure they couldn't be surprised. Once satisfied, she turned to face her new companion- and listened with baited breath as the radio crackled. Static soon filled the silence, and for a few moments, they feared it would not work- until a sound cut through the white noise.
"Rick?" a voice spoke clearly.
"I'm here. Got what you asked for." Rick's voice remained calm, unwavering.
"Good." the voice replied.
As the static resumed, Rick and Jasper exchanged concerned glances- before focusing on the road ahead. As a set of headlights came into view, they braced themselves for what was to come. They knew that the men likely wanted them dead, but they also knew that neither of them was going to go down easily. Each of them would fight until the last second.
They'd fight.
For everyone back home.